Dear Friend:

As you may be aware, Shaw University is seeking to rezone 27 acres of its downtown campus. The rezoning request wants to increase existing heights of its buildings to 30-stories. Most disturbing, there is a full out attempt to convert Shaw's land from institutional use to "mixed business use". There are a myriad of concerns that the community should be concerned about including: 

• increasing rent and property costs, which will worsen the housing crisis 
• removing historical buildings which will threaten the historical and cultural significance of this institution 
• negatively impacting the environment and historically Black neighborhoods, with increased flooding
• discriminating against Muslims and permanently closing the community Mosque

In order to remain a viable institution of higher learning, we support an effort where Shaw University can grow and modernize without commercializing and simultaneously destroying its history. This project will cause irreversible gentrification to SE Raleigh and puts a stamp of approval on religious discrimination.

Time is of the essence as we need for our voices to be heard before the rezoning hearing date on June 20. Therefore, we are asking for your support as the SAVE OUR SHAW COALITION will host the "CITIZENS UNITED AGAINST GENTRIFICATION RALLY" next Saturday, June 10th at 11AM.

We are calling on all environmentalists, history preservationists, housing advocates, HBCU supporters, Raleigh residents, friends & believers of religious freedom to come together and stand up for our community's values, heritage, and future. We cannot let greed and profit take precedence over our commitment to preserving our history and empowering our community.

Shaw's leadership has ignored our repeated requests for a community meeting where we have asked for full transparency. We have collected nearly 2,000 signatures asking for full transparency. We have repeatedly reiterated the importance of presenting a campus plan instead of co-signing a "blank check rezoning" request but administration has declined our request for community engagement - even after City Council delayed their vote TWICE to give them an opportunity to simply talk to concerned citizens.

We hope that you will stand with us to make our voices heard. Let us come together and fight for a better future for Shaw University and our community as a whole. The more people we invite into our cause, the stronger and more resilient we become.

WATCH THIS VIDEO FOR A SHAW REZONE RECAP

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO READ AN ARTICLE PENNED

BY THE FOUNDERS OF THE SAVE OUR SHAW COALITION

Like & Follow our sister organization, THE FRIENDS OF SHAW U on FACEBOOK for updates on our movement